Boron-Catalyzed Silylative Reduction of Nitriles in Accessing Primary Amines and Imines

Abstract

Silylative reduction of nitriles was studied under transition metal-free conditions by using B­(C₆F₅)₃ as a catalyst with hydrosilanes as a reductant. Alkyl and (hetero)­aryl nitriles were efficiently converted to primary amines or imines under mild conditions. The choice of silanes was found to determine the selectivity: while a full reduction of nitriles was highly facile, the use of sterically bulky silanes allowed for the partial reduction leading to <i>N</i>-silylimines